Jamaican patties have been popular outside of Jamaica for a few decades but in most cases they were found in Caribbean restaurants or grocery stores. Most Jamaicans living abroad have encountered patties, whether they are frozen or fresh out of the oven but what is surprising is that  Compass, a market leader in providing food services which specializes in catering and has nearly four hundred thousand employees in over fifty five countries, is serving patties!

Before you even wonder if the patties that they serve are genuine, let me assure you that the crust (arguably the most important component of a pattie) is just as normal as regular patties you may have come across. The main difference lies in the spice level which was reduced to accomodate more people and the addition of a tomato sauce which accompanies the pattie (that is the indicator that there is no Jamaican in the staff that puts together the menu).

As a lifelong pattie-lover, I see this inclusion in my lunch menu as an exciting addition. I do not feel as if I am being cheated when I see the word pattie on the menu. As a matter of fact I was not so surprised when I saw patties being served where I work (a large software company) because I had come across them in university cafeterias and mainstream grocery store.

In conclusion, the moral of the story, if there is one, is that we should never underestimate the popularity of Jamaican products. This should be kept in mind whether or not we are dealing with music, sports, food or anything else. My two cents tells me that Jerk Chicken is next on the list! Although I'm having trouble envisioning non-spicy jerk ...